MISERIES

HELL'S HELIONS

AMINA

The bus ride to reform school wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Other than the fact that I would be going to school meant for delinquents and the fact that my reason for going there wasn't clear to me yet, I daresay it wasn't that bad. My supposed partners in crime were a random bunch.
I can't say I don't know them or haven't seen them before. But I sure as hell can count the number of times I've ever spoken to these people.  Except for Lanre and Princess. 

Those two are a constant menace in my life and as well as the lives of half of the students attending  Belion's High.
But even with the constant terror and hell let loose by these two, I highly doubt that they could do such a thing.

I couldn't remember when or where I had an encounter with Ife, but from the looks of it, she seemed like someone who would break down if she witnessed a fight.

Taking one last glance round the bus, I block out the rest of the world with some earplugs, allowing sleep to pull me closer to the world of slumber. A place of no return.

Hopefully.

IFE

One Mississippi
Two Mississippi
Three Mississippi 
For miss-

It wasn't working. I couldn't calm my nerves. And the death stares I got from the girl in the bright outfit any time I mistakenly touched her if the bus hits a pothole was enough to shoot my anxiety up to a thousand.
Fiddling with my fingernails, I think about the hell that transpired  nine hours ago.
The parent sure did have a lot to say, and most of their words were slightly offensive.

Daddy didn't say a word. He didn't even spare me a glance while I was whisked away into this cramped bus. 

I looked up to see my partner glaring daggers at me.
I scrunched my face in confusion and looked around only to see my hands on her shoulders. I quickly removed my hands and mumbled a quick sorry before turning my face to the other side.

Seeking back the comforts of my thoughts was harder than I thought.  For a split second, it felt like none of this shit happened. But when I looked around and met the hard gaze of the soldier, my thoughts came back flooding.

I didn't want them anymore.

TOBE
I felt itchy. It felt like a thousand ants were having a feast on my back.

No, I'm not in withdrawal mode. I don't do drugs.  I'm not an addict to cigarette either... just a few puffs here and there.

My mum's face kept flashing in my head. I hated it. It reminded me of things I'd rather forget. It reminded me of how I had failed her leaving her all alone. I kept seeing her face and the disappointment hovering over like some kind of foreign emotions. I could see the disappointed look didn't reach her eyes. It was almost as if she wasn't actually sad.

That unknown emotion.

Was it... joy?

I didn't have enough time to think harder on that as my thoughts were broken off by the intimidating voice by a man with one of the most scariest eyes I have ever looked at.

"Hello, delinquents. I'm  General Bassey, and I'm your escort. Normally, I would send some low-grade soldiers or a cadet to escort you, but I've heard from quite a source the atrocities  you've committed that has led you on your way to your mega karma and I must say that I don't think sending a cadet to escort you would have been the greatest idea. It's quite unfortunate that children so beautiful would have hearts so ugly. You are on your way to one of the most prestigiously rigid  places in the world. I won't be a fool and tell you to behave given your current profiles as delinquents. But I must warn you of the consequences that follow when you disobey any of our laid-down rules. We are very strict in the corporation, so we won't hesitate to blow off the heads of disrespectful helions."

Dramatic pause.

"Well then, sit tight and savour the things that I've told you. Now, if you have any questions, you may as well ask in the space of thirty seconds and.... counting."

More silence.

"Okay then." He clapped his big hands together and made a rather dramatic exit.

I scanned the bus and saw two girls having a glaring standoff. 

The girl in bright outfit won, but it made me wonder how they could still squeeze in time for their girly drama despite the goings-on.

Those unreadable eyes of my mother's came flashing in my head once more.

Only that this time, they weren't unreadable. They weren't foreign. Heck, I knew the emotion like the back of my hands.

It wasn't joy.
It was relief.

A cigarette can score you about 6 to 7 hours of that state.
But that's the difference.  This wasn't relief from puffing smoke. It was relief from being free from a burden.

I was a burden. My mother saw me as a burden.

Suddenly, getting a few puffs couldn't hurt.

LANRE

We reached our destination about two hours ago.
I still remember that gate; a heavy mass barricade with heavily fortified soldiers guarding it like it was some kind of terrorist secret hideout.
I still remember the questionable gazes I got from my accomplices and General Bassey. I couldn't blame them, though. I was too calm and collected all the way. I'm pretty sure I'm a confirmed culprit in their heads.
I still remember the bus ride. The pointless speech Bassey gave. It was obvious he was just trying to lay boundaries and instil fear and now masked it up as some kind of prep speech.
Isn't that what orientation is for?
I still remember that final PTA meeting. I honestly didn't see a need for the school to invite the teachers and the non-involved parents.
Everybody was present. Even those who have never come for a PTA meeting ever since their child/ward enrolled in this school. They were all there for one thing: gossip. And they got it, alright. 

I still remember that night that shouted the name called the slap. Oh, that slap.

Worst of all, I still remember the breakdown. I wasn't supposed to see it. But I did before leaving the room later that night to soak in some fresh air. I saw them. Sprawled out on the floor, sobbing. I had brought tears to my mum's face. This was the first time I had seen my dad cry. And it broke me. They didn't see me, though. I went back to my room as soon as my legs weren't numb anymore. The soaking in of air was long forgotten. 

All these I remember. All these I wish I didn't.

PRINCESS
Daggers.
All I could do was stare daggers at her.
I saw the fear in her eyes. I didn't want her to fear me. I wanted her to react differently. I wanted her to shout, glare, say hurtful words.

I wanted a distraction.

All I needed from her was a freaking distraction, but   no. Instead, she made me remember this more.

Getting into this school wasn't the problem. Heck, I was living in the military version of Barbie for sixteen years, and I still looked good. I still held my chin high. My shoulders up. And that obnoxious smirk never left my face.

I was made to be who - I mean what I am now.
I am Adaora Princess Ojiaku.
I've lived in hell covered in glitters and sparkles. I've dealt with manipulative, inflexible situations.
I'm done proving my innocence.
I'm done listening.

They made a big mistake framing me for something I didn't do.

They're gonna see hell.

And whoever did this is gonna see worse.

I'll make sure of it.